Originally Posted by
Centaurus
To those who say ditching an airliner is so remote so no need to demonstrate skill, consider the possibility of an uncontrollable engine or airframe fire and the need to get down quickly before control is lost and you are over water. A ditch or die situation so to speak.
For thirty minutes twice a year in a simulator, would that not be good confidence builder and value for money? After all, it is the last 1000 ft of descent which need to be practiced in tems of aircraft handling on instruments. Forget checklists and long briefings. That can be discussed in the briefing room. It is all about skilful attitude flying and careful throttle handling over a period of three or four minutes prior to impact. if you have never had the opportunity to practice a ditching approach on instruments, survival chances are slim if it happens for real. From experience I can tell you it takes several practices in the simulator before competency is assured. There are no second chances if it happens for real
We'd had this sort of discussion with the FAA more than once - not specifically about water ditching, but about 'why can't we train them for this in the simulator'.
Bottom line, simulator time is valuable. You need to prioritize what you're going to train for. And water ditchings of commercial airliners
is extremely rare - two in the last 50 years, and those had extenuating circumstance. Sully didn't
need to land on the water - he chose that as the best option rather than coming down in the middle of the city. Ethiopian was a hijacking.
Bottom line, there are more likely emergency scenarios that need to be trained for with the limited amount of sim time.